Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-03-03
ANYBODY BUT ALBEIT
SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN THE MOTTO
OF JERSEY REPUBLICANS.

They Organize Combine" and Elect
Democrat Senator-Pieasantries Ex-
changed in the Indiana House-Beauty
of the Situstiou-A Stringent Liquor
Law For Minnesota.
TRENTON, N. j., March S.-Rufus Blod-
gett, ex -meulber of the legislature, of Ocean
county, superintendent of the New York &
Long Branch railroad, and one of the most
active of Democratic politicians in the state
was elected to the United States senate
Wednesday afternoon to succeed Gen. Sew
ell, whose term expires Friday Tho election
of Mr. Blodgett was secured by the aid of 81
Republicans and ) anti Abbott Democrats
tAssemblymen Kinney and Throekmorton
and Senator Chattle) Senator Chase, DEM
ocrat, afterward changed from Albeit to
Blodgett, thereby making AZ votes for Blod-
gett, just above Il ma jority necessary to
elect. Bodgett is anti-civii service re-
form Democrat. There was much turbulence,
and the Albeit men were particularly bitter
in their denunciation of those who opposed
their candidate.
There were indications previous TO the
meeting of the joint convention that some
thing was up. The convention met at noon
and Throckmorton, Democrat, moved to
take recess until 1 p. IN. This was opposed
by the ALBEIT men, and Senator Edwards
asked il he was TO understand the gentleman
from Monmouth (Throckmorton) wanted to
confer with a Democratic caucus
Il don't know what the gentleman from
Hudson understands, said Throckmorton,
ibut desire to say that the gentleman
from Monmouth understands himself Zap
plause.I
The motion for recess was carried and the
Republicans went into caucus to plan the
election of some Democrat other than Alb
bett
When the joint assembly was called TO or
two of their number were missing. Not yet
despairing they resorted TO filibustering for
half-hour in order to dispatch messengers
for the missing members. During the delay
the missing members appeared. A vote was
then ordered The very first name on the
list is Alderman, Republican leader. The
clerk called his name aud he slowly arose in
his seat in perfect silenca and repeated the
name Of Rufus Blodgett. Following Acker-
man came Armstrong, who is the Republi-
can leader of the house and Gen. Sewel's
right-hani man. He, too, voted for
Blodgett All the Republicans followed suit
with the exception of Col Sam Dickinson
and Mr.. Lifts These gentlemen voted for
| Sewell
| When Carroll, one of the labor members,
! arose to vote all noise ceased. He said the
| fight had narrowed down to a railroad man
and an anti-rallroad man. He would vote
| for an anti-monnpolist-Leon Albeit As
| Carroll concluded n graf shout from a
thousand voices went up and for fully five
minutes it was followed by cheer after cheer.
| Donohue, the labor m mber, stuck to Potter.
| The vote was announced: Blodgett, SO;
Albeit Is, Hays, !; Potter, /; Sewen >
total, 81. There was great confusion. The
chairman annourcel 40 election. Another
ballot was taken AMID great disorder. The
| Republicans, except Dickinson and Lifts,
voted for Blodgett Dickinson voted for
| Sewell and Lifts iUr Abbett The Democrats
excepting Chattle, ThrOcknortol, and Kin
ney, voted for Albeit. Kinney changed to
| Blodgett, and was hissel 10y the Democrats,
Before the vote was ANNOUNCED Dickinson
| iRep) changed from Seweil TO Blodgetl, Civ
ing the latter Al and eiecting HIM. Albeit
received So and Potter l.
The scene which followed was like bedlam
Every one seemed TO I've cursing every one
else. Men sprang upon the desks and shouted
| for recognition, and Chairman Fish brokt
his gavel in trying to restore order. Then
Democrats arose en- maSse and wanted to
change their votes from Albeit TO Sewell
The chairman said no change could be made
till the vote was announced. The Democrat:
crowded around the desk and shook theil
fists under the chairman's nose A dozer
Democrats shouted that they changed their
votes to Sewell, but it was too late.
Edwards rushed down the aisle waving a
paper saying he had message from Albeit
1t was read and pruvei to be thanks to tn
faithful Democrats. 1t said in substance
that it was better TO have elected poo
Democrat than good Republican Thel
the Democrats who changed to Sewel
changed back to Albeit and there was vii,
cheering for Albeit Finally the Chairman
got a chance to shout that Blodgett wa
elected, roar of Kisses and catcalls greetin,
the announcement Baird clapped his hands
This enraged Heppenheimer, an Albeit Dem
ocrat, so much that he picked up law boo
and hurled it at Baird, whom he denounce,
as backslider The book fell short Ami,
such exciting scenes as this the chairman de
clarst the joint assembly adjourned sin
die.